Australian Image wrote:I would prefer something like this, much smaller, 2.34MP high resolution, HDMI connection to camera/field monitor (even hand held) and far more versatile when attached to a flexible arm:

You would be better off using a Leica type optical viewfinder on the camera than this hard to look through that low res EVF shown What is needed is a Zacuto Gratical Eye or Wooden Camera Mod of the BM EVF that can be powered from its own battery or from the camera, and have a HDMI input instead of SDI. That would be a class A EVF. Cheers

Ray, yes you are correct, the new current EVFs found on a GH5/S or Nikon Z is great. I was kind of being “tongue in cheek” here, as was saying the optical viewfinder was better than the 5+ year old removable EFV you have shown, not rhe new ones available now. I had a Nikon V3 with a similar removable EVF, it was not very good either, compared to what we have now.

Yes it would be grand for BM to develop some type of new smaller EVF for the Pocket 4K, like a scaled down Ursa Mini EVF with a HDMI connection, and a way to outer it fri the camera or Battery on the EVF. Their is no hot shoe in the Pocket 4K, so this type of connection for power and signal feed is out. Perhaps the USBC connection can provide an alternative connection point for power and signal?

Ray, if you get a chance, you should check out the BM Ursa Mini EVF, it is one of the best I have used, and I have tried quite a few. I did the Wooden Camera Mod to mine, which made it more useful on different cameras.p, as well as making it smaller, like the Gratical Eye, which is also a grand EVF.Cheers

Australian Image wrote:You don't need a powered hot shoe for the concept I'm imagining, a cold shoe to hold the EVF would suffice. Obviously it would need to be slightly larger to accommodate the connections, but no where near as large as existing EVFs that use LCD screens. Basically, it would simply need a HDMI input and a power input. Both would be quite small, especially given that the existing input on the VF-2 is full HDMI sized..

Yes, this is kind of mindboggling. I expect a good marked for a HDMI connected EVF at this size. It seems like most vendors have become a bit lazy, relying on existing monitors 3.5”+ with magnifying glass rather than developing tiny EVF like the one you are mentioning Ray.

If anyone know of such EVF. Please enlighten us ASAP!

I do a lot of hiking with my gear and need small/light weight size. Big EVF/monitors is out of the question, especially now when I shot with the BMPCC4K.

I know it was a joke, but the dark cloth answer (above) seems like the cheapest, easiest, most fool proof solution. Doesn't need a battery. No cable to fail. Fits in your pocket. You could blow your nose on it an emergency.

I always carried one with my view cameras in the film days and it worked quite well (although it does muss up your hair). I also carried a small loupe to assist in focus, which I still have somewhere. I'm going to pull out both next sunny day and will report back.

Spot on to you both. Ric, I still carry by view camera focus cloth in my kit, comes in very handy.

Yes, a smaller more elegant EVF is needed for the new Pocket, but to get good EVF optics and screen resolution, it is going to cost more than $1K, unless someone gets very creative and figures out a way to get the price down, with potential volume sales. That said, this EVF would need to be more universal, and not camera specific.Cheers

Denny Smith wrote:, but to get good EVF optics and screen resolution, it is going to cost more than $1K, unless someone gets very creative and figures out a way to get the price down, with potential volume sales. Cheers

Yup. Hopefully the already existing EVF tech, used in today’s DSLR’s, are cheap enough to convert into affordable external solution. But it all depends on who will be first one to hit the marked. That will define the marked price for some time am afraid, regardless which technology.

Well, in USA dollars, arm$1950, it is about $700 more than the camera sells for. But a good EVF (especially one with SDI and HDMI inputs) is like a good lens, itmeill outlive several cameras. I still have the original Zacuto ZFinder Pro EVF and it works with the Micro cameras, as long as you do not go past 30fps, so camera resolution advances without backwards HD support, is going to be the limiting factor for how long a EVF will be useable.Cheers

Ray, the main difference is eye relief and viewing comfort when you use a EVF for 8-10 hr day, looking through it for 15-30min at a time. Also having Waveform and Vector Scope displays is a very useful tool. Yes, having a basic EFV that displays the Pocket Camera output is needed, but it needs to be big enough to use easily, and look through withmiut getting eyen strain.

The Zacuto Gratical Eye and the JTZ Kameleon are about as small as they currently get. Out of the lot, the Eye would be my first choice if it had a HDMI input also, but it doesn’t and I managed to get a BM Ursa Mini EVF for 900, and did the Wooden Camera Mod, so is is about the same size as the Eye, only a different shape.

The VF-2/4 may work for you, but it is not what everyone else is looking for. Once you use a good EVF like these, you will not want to go back to still camera style EVFs. Cheers

Yes, but the main issue is, the Olympus and cameras like it that have an optional external EVF have part of the EVF video processor circuit inside the camera, and the hot shoe connection feeds the display power and the pre-processed signal, via a multi pin connection. The Panasonic EVA does this, but added a larger EVF/display.

The Pocket 4K does not have this option, and the EVF must contain the video processor to turn the HDMI signal into a useable display, and yiu need to add external power from some source.

And no, not “Everyone/Anyone” wants just a small EVF, dome of us want a more useable display and additional features in the EVF. Cheers

As good as the screen is I would prefer a 5" loupe that wasn't $250. The only one I can find at the moment costs $250 which is absurd for what it is.

I'd much rather be able to quickly attach/detach a loupe then to fiddle with an external EVF. Right now I'm using the zacuto zfinder and it's annoying trying to mount it, dealing with the HDMI cable, extra batteries, extra weight, etc...

Ray, I did not say, “I also don't understand why you keep insisting that bugger all users would want such an EVF and that such an EVF would ostensibly be unusable”. I only said it was not an EVF that everyone would want, as you had implied. If you want a small EVF, fine go get one. I was just pointing out the current small EVFs that you have referred to, had to depend on additional processors built into the cameras that use them. If BM or someone else can delvleop and market a small EVF under $900, then great.

I bought a 3" Hoodman loupe for my early mirrorless cameras ,before EVFs became available, and it's bloody awful. I decided then and there not to buy another mirrorless camera until EVFs became available.

I came to the same conclusion after using the Zacuto ProFinder which has better optics than the Hoodman, put it on the original Pocket camera, with its low res screen, it was not easy to use either. So without a good useable EVF, I passed on the new Pocket 4K, and canceled my pre order because I could see adding an external EVF from what was available was a non starter, without getting overly complicated or too expensive.

I picked up one of the new Nikon Z6 Cameras I stead, it has an excellent EVF that got very good reviews. That said, it is one of the best in camera EVFs I have tried, but as good as it is, I do not see trying to use it more than for a few minutes, not an EVF I would want to try and use for a long video take. Same goes for the EVF on my Olympus PenF. But that is just me and how I use an EVF for shooting video. For still photos these two EVFs are great. And this is a wrap. Goodnight.Note: edits to correct typos only

There are already a multitude of EVFs available that would do the task, but they are all expensive, large, power hungry and especially not suited to those who would like to hand hold a minimal setup.

Agreed, and this is why I passed on the Pocket 4K. Same issue with the Micro Cinema camera which I also sold. Thought someone would release a smaller (than the current lot) EVF that could be easier to use on the Micro camera, but so far that has not happened. If BMD, or some one else, comes up with a good EFV like the Ursa Mini EVF (Head only, not the crazy bracket) or Zacuto Eye, but with HDMI input and under $950, then I would jump on that one and order the new Pocket 4K, which seems to be an excellent video camera. See Ray, I am not dissing what you are saying. Cheers

OK, here is another “way out” option, how about a very small HDMI to WiFi streaming box on the camera, and wear a pair of headsup display glasses (SVS) that would project the screen image in front of you, now you can place the camera where every you need it and see what the camera is doing.

Interesting, yes, this is one concept. A UHD/SVS, a larger image is floating in front of you, no little peep hole. But, something like this, is an option. Now if it will work with the BM Pocket 4K?Cheers

Thank you for sharing this forum with us, we appreciate it.We are eager to work with cinematographers because Vufine does work well as a viewfinder for many cameras. However, there is a limitation. Vufine can only accept a 720p HDMI signal and this makes it incompatible with many digital cameras. It does work seamlessly with a lot of Sony cameras, which is why we have a few reviewers sharing their Vufine EVF experience.There are transmitters you can use to achieve an HDMI signal that is compatible with Vufine, ie Teredek Bolt. However, many of these systems are quite pricey. We hope our next model is compatible with more cameras so we can provide a solution for more cinematographers.

Australian Image wrote:Just as a follow-up, I contacted Feelworld (http://www.feelworld.cn/) who make field monitors and other related devices and they've come back to me several times for more information on my EVF suggestion. Whether they seriously follow through with a product and marketing review is another thing, but at least the interest that they are showing is heartening.

Only negative side is probably price and it’s a bit bulky for traveling. I like the idea of VF-4 better because of its size.. so hopefully we can find something like that instead. Still… seem kind of handy for those difficult shooting angles.

I see more production and creative flexibility in a head-mounted EVF. I think this is the way. Maybe even having the capability to use either by head mount or on camera. The AiRScouter 300-series could be made detachable and mounted on a cold shoe. With this, i wouldn't need a monitor for high or lower shots with my bmp4k. The price should be close to $500.

The above 300 series looks like it could be hacked or developed to work both as an on camera evf or mounted as shows. I prefer an option like this. Because the v4 would be limiting inmop. Though it would be setter than nothing.